April 06, 2010

'Sarah' shares her feelings about 'Chuck': Yvonne Strahovski speaks

Sarah Walker, her character on "Chuck," is certainly a woman of action -- when not busting up spy rings, she's often busting the heads of villains with her wicked fighting skills.

But since the third season of the NBC spy show wrapped production three weeks ago, Strahovski has been taking a break. Being Sarah is hard work.

"After eight months of 'Chuck,' it really takes it out of me," the actress said in a Monday phone conversation.

She doesn't have any firm post-season plans -- there is one potential project in the works, but she couldn't say what it was. But she will be heading to to her native Australia soon for the premiere of a film she appears in, "I Love You Too" (to answer your next question, she thinks the film will get released in North America but she wasn't sure).

In the Q&A below, the actress answered some burning questions I had (and a few that fans had) after Monday's pivotal episode of the show, which returns with six new episodes April 26. Questions are in bold type, answers are in regular type.

By the way, the interview with "Chuck" executive producer Chris Fedak that is referenced below is here and here.

What did you think of how Chuck and Sarah finally got together? Was it a relief? Was it a big deal in terms of your character?

Yeah, I think it's a huge relief for everyone. It's like the natural progression of what should happen. I think there's only so many times we could drag it out where they didn't [get together]. There are only so many obstacles Chuck and Sarah can face. I think it's really great and I think the fans are going to love it.

I think there was a pent-up demand among the fans for this to happen. There was a big to-do when Sarah and Shaw got together. Is that something you followed at all, or is the online chatter something you try to stay away from?

No, I hear about it. I don't really go online a lot, I didn't read about it but I'd heard that [some people] were very unhappy about the love interests that both Chuck and Sarah had, both Shaw and Hannah. People were unhappy.

It's just hard for us as viewers sometimes, I think, because Chuck and Sarah have such chemistry -- it's harder for us to invest in the new character.

There's a lot that we've invested in those characters, and so when somebody else comes along, there's got to be a pretty good reason to start to invest in somebody else. I can understand how it could be hard for the viewers to watch it.

Was it fun to do these next episodes where they're together? Was it the same or was there a different feel?

It's a different feel. I think for my character, she's always sort of been abnormal -- she's always been a spy and she doesn't really know how to live a non-spy life. I think Chuck has taught her over the seasons how to sort of be more normal. I think she relaxes somewhat and she doesn't hold her feelings in so much. It's definitely an interesting journey for my character and it's definitely a lot of fun to play that, when they're together. It's kind of a release.

Yeah, and I'm hoping it's going to be fun to see them adjust to them being a couple and see everyone around them adjust to that. Do you think it adds more comedy or more drama to the show?

I don't know, I would say maybe more dramatic I guess, in a way, because some problems occur later on. I guess [the relationship adds] a bit of both.

There was a lot for Sarah to deal with in Season 3 -- opening up to Chuck, then him choosing not to run off with her, her watching him change and contending with her own feelings and all that. Was this the most challenging season for you as an actress or was it on par with the previous seasons?

I loved this season. I feel like it just gets better every season. The more complicated it gets, the more fun I have as an actress doing it. There were so many layers. The journey this season was kind of more complicated. She wanted to [run off] and Chuck rejected that idea, and I don't think she was expecting that at all. That was a big, giant slap in the face. I think she wanted to open up but that kind of stopped her and she went back to square one.

After [Monday's "Chuck" episode], I think it's such a relief for her. She tried to find something else with Shaw but it's just not the same. They both realized that whatever they were trying to look for in other people, they're never going to find it, because it's right there in front of them.

You know, it wasn't your performance at all, and I was upfront with Chris Fedak about this -- I didn't quite understand why Sarah was with Shaw. And his take was that he was the kind of guy she'd been with in the past, so that was somehow comforting to her. Is that your take on it also?

Yeah, I agree, it kind of goes back to what I was saying before -- she doesn't know how to be a normal person and normal people I guess don't appeal to her because she's not really around them. To me as an actor, what I sort of rode on was the fact that they both lost people who were really important to them in the spy world. He had lost his wife and I had lost Bryce. They had an emotional understanding about each other. But yeah, it goes back to what you were saying before, it's so hard to invest in something new when there's so much already invested in Chuck and Sarah.

Now that Chuck knows Sarah's real name, will he start calling her Sam?

Will we see any more of Sarah's family or parents in the last part of the season?

No, I think that'll have to wait for a possible fourth season.

Are you going to participate in the fan efforts to get the show another season? Do you yourself have anything in the works in that arena?

You know, I haven't started to think about that yet, but I'll jump on the bandwagon of whatever happens.

So, before I let you go, I thought I'd ask some questions from fan. One wanted to know if you're similar to Sarah Walker.

The athletic part of it [is similar]. I love doing all sorts of sporty things.

Have you ever had an idea for an episode? What would you like to do if you could write an episode?

I've always had this idea, I've pitched it to Chris Fedak -- to go to Fashion Week or Paris or Milan. I think it'd be a really great setup, to mix the catwalk and the models and have to wear different wigs and things.

Another fan question: Are you into gaming or anything nerdy?

No, not really gaming at all. But I was in [the videogame] "Mass Effect 2." It is really weird to watch myself in a game, that's really cool.

So what would you say to get fans excited about the next set of episodes?

Gosh, it gets pretty dramatic. The line between Chuck's spy life and family life and who knows and who doesn't know -- it's all going to come dangerously close.

Thanks for this. So great to hear from Yvonne's take on the season so far. I've had this wishlist idea for the show for them to do a "Zoolander" spoof (could you imagine how funny Zac would be?) so to hear that she wants to do a fashion/catwalk episode would be so perfect for that. I really hope they (NBC) renew this fantastic show and that Fedak takes Yvonne (and me) up on this idea!!

As always..you're great. Yvonne brings a unique perspective to this renewal drama. Thanks for the interview...from you both. Can't say I feel resolved. But with all the press...and less competition on the 26th, coupled with a very exciting episode: 2.5. Renewal for even 13 would be nice.

I'm a new fan of this show - just started watching this year. I won't say this is the best written show I've seen in years, but it's real effective. YS does a sensational job, but the writers really set her up. I find myself rooting for Chuck and Sarah, and that's remarkable. I'm hoping to see three things before this show goes off the air (whenever that is):
1. The Sarah character having dinner with Chuck's family, only this time enjoying the whole thing without bounds.
2. Chuck character telling Sarah character that he loves her without either being drugged or hung over. Y'know, driving across town to check something out, and say it, simple and clear out of the blue. It'd just take ten seconds of screen time and that would be in character for Chuck to do and say. Maybe pick up her hand and kiss it. Now that the cat's out of the bag, let Chuck be Chuck and see how Sarah deals with it.
3. Sarah character dealing with a four month old baby. You think Chuck's a fish out of water? but, her character has a strong maternal streak in her. What's that character going to do? In other words, how does YS stack up against Gena Rowlands?

It's interesting that the Sarah character's real name is Sam. In a classic sit-com, "Bewitched", the lead character was someone who wanted so much to be a normal housewife but could never be that. The lead character's name? Samantha. YS seems to be a pretty good actress, and it would be interesting to see how she does comedy (as well, it would be really interesting to see how they'd write the comedy for the Sarah character) as she makes an attempt to fit into Chuck's life. The Sarah character is capable of quite a bit and it's a huge stretch for her, but she'd do it because she's so far gone on Chuck.

Lovely storytelling, I thought, though I've not endured a couple of years of pulling and pushing. Good foreshadowing, nice symmetry. I'm a fan who appreciates the dark places ventured. The precise lines could have been written a lot better, but the characters were true to themselves Honest writing. Life has tests. I see it simpler, but maybe that's because I'm a latecomer.

great interview. i'm a bit tired of reading about 'chuck's' take on their relationship.
anyway maybe they can do a musical ep? you should've asked her if she can sing. she's gorgeous, a great dancer, obviously an amazing actress and her wiki page said she's a straight A student so im really curious if she knows how to sing.

Awesome interview! Thanks a lot for finally asking questions about that Shaw/Sarah relationship. I never understood why Sarah would do that. I figured she did it to secretly get back at Chuck for leaving her in the train station... or maybe for his "Superman-like" physique, LOL.

Pete--Chuck told Sarah he loved her without being drugged or hungover. He actually said it about 3x if I remember correctly. Plus the time he said it on video. It's Sarah who hasn't spoken the words. That is who I felt should have said it directly to Chuck in the last episode.

Mo, thanks for the interview. You got great questions, here and with Chris Fedak. Yvonne is such a wonderful actress who can speak volume with a glance. It's a good thing because Sarah Walker is such a closed character who hardly talks. I hope that the next six episode will bring us back the old kickass Sarah who was mostly absent in the last 13 episodes. I also hope that the writers give Yvonne more comedy to do because she has already proven that she can do it too, particularly in "Chuck vs. The Other Guy."

And I would like to echo one of the previous poster with the question: Can Yvonne sing?

I LOVE Yvonne and she's a fantastic actress. She's really sold me on the Sarah character and give her absolute props for doing so. Great interview, and really appreciate seeing her take on the whole thing. She's definitely a shipper and we appreciate that. She's one of the very few who could have pulled off that whole season 3 stint the showrunners pulled, and kudos to her. We love you Yvonne and hope to see many more years of her on Chuck.

Abby I agree with you. I would like to have the kick ass Sarah Walker back and that she participate more in the comedy. The great part is that this is exactly what it could be set up for. Suddenly having and open and lighthearted Sarah Walker would have been weird and OOC. They had to bring her through this arc to be able to change her personality in a realistic way. Now they have the opportunity to make her what ever they want and hopefully in a likable way.

If you want to see Yvonne do comedy, go to season 1 where Lester walks into Wienerlicious and asks her on a date, and she hops like a lioness atop the lunch counter and frightens him away with her aggressive suggestions. She is a superb comic actress. What a waste that they generaly keep her away from the comedy in "Chuck". But as she said to Chuck in the pilot when he told her what a funny guy he was, "That's good because I'm not funny" so that's the way they set the character up from the start.

Could have said that clearer. What I meant was, now that Chuck is past some things, it would be great for Chuck to just be Chuck and hand her a box of love with absolutely no strings attached - nothing to gain in the moment except feeling something, which his character does without a second thought so easily and the Sarah character so struggles with but really wants seemingly without quite knowing how to get it. It seems the Sarah character hasn't much life experience with such, it's not a bad thing and that character would know it. Would she burst into tears? be stunned? stop dead in her tracks? slowly dissolve? the Sarah character eases with some aplomb through situations involving lies and deception. How does she handle something so intrinsically uncomplicated? She's used to being in control, but the Chuck character should squarely hit her buttons with that one. He'd sideswipe her and never know he did it. Her character handles manipulation pretty well, but he'd just be doing what Chuck would do and she'd know that too. Great oppty for YS to show what she can do without needing a lot of screen time to do it. The Chuck character is such an often unintenional subversive, and good storytelling is about change. Chuck character has been handling all the change. Sarah character now getting into the swing. More, please.

TPTB need to start campaigning for both of the leads of this show for Emmys. Yvonne's work this season was phenominal. The last episode was a great showcase for her as an actor. For Zac Levi, you could pick just about any episode, including the last one. You could also campaign for Adam Baldwin with the episode, Chuck vs. the Tic Tac. The leads are just that good.

Of course the top priority is to push for new viewers and a renewal! On to season 4!

Hey Mo, This is Frank. Just wanted to let you know that, against all odds, Better Off Ted made the final 6 in the E network SOS contest. I sent out a message on FB to all the 4000 or so members in our group, but if you could mention it on your site, that would get so much more attention. Just a note, people can vote multiple times. Thanks! Here's the link: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b175352_save_one_show_this_itvote_now_in_final.html

I do not want anymore soap opera love triangles. I want the Chuck and Sarah relationship to remain strong and for F&S to concentrate on the adventures and comedy. I also would like to see more of the regulars. The trade off for bigger name guests was not a good one. I though 3.13 was excellent and one of the top 2 or 3 episodes of all three seasons. Although I may be in the minority there were only 3 or 4 episodes of the season so far that I will ever watch again. I got pretty apathetic after a while and just got bored with the love twists. I think F&S can really up their game in the final 6 episodes. For some reason I could not get into Shaw (Routh) did not feel like he had good chemistry. I always thought he kind of failed at Superman because he followed Christopher Reeve(a real American hero) Not his fault, just bad timing. I hope he actually got killed and they do not bring him back. Two chest shots seeping blood (sucking chest wounds) and falling face down in the river should have done anyone in--there are plenty of new villains without revisiting old ones. I personally am tired of conflicts between Chuck and Sarah and feel there are opportunities and time now for some great storylines.(My own opinion-right or wrong) In my mind an S4 is entirely in the hands of F&S and nothing would make me happier than to see them top 3.13 in 3.18 and 3.19. As corny as it may sound I would not mind a C&S wedding (Ellie like or a quickie). I want them to stay together fighting evildoers with all the Bartowski team.(One more quick note-seemed to me that Sarah put more effort in her Bryce and Shaw kisses than her Chuck kisses--maybe that was my imagination!!!)

She is an amazing actress, would love to see her do a bit more comedy on Chuck, I think she has the skills. And she did great on Mass Effect btw on of my favourite game series. She should be on the 3d game since she played a really valuable character in the second part!

Very nice interview.
Certainly wish NBC would recognize the diamond they have in this show and just renew it for a 4th Season. Zack Levi and Yvonne Strahovski are extremely talented actors for sure. Each episode builds on their talents at so many levels. Here's hoping the bubble bursts soon and they are picked up ... again!

So Mo, she's not leaving Chuck, or there is a possibility.
Also, will there be a 4th Season?:)
Sorry for being so pestering :P

Mo here: She's not leaving Chuck. She's under contract, and from what I took away from the interview, she likes working on the show. So she's not going anywhere. We won't know for at least another month whether Chuck will get a fourth season. If it does, Yvonne will be back.

"Have you ever had an idea for an episode? What would you like to do if you could write an episode?

I've always had this idea, I've pitched it to Chris Fedak -- to go to Fashion Week or Paris or Milan. I think it'd be a really great setup, to mix the catwalk and the models and have to wear different wigs and things."

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